So different yet so similar - February 12, 2006

Dun Guzepp Zerafa Fgura Primary A is the co-ordinating school of a Comenius project entitled "So different yet so similar" - for Kindergarten and early primary children.

Its partner schools are from Germany, Poland, the UK, Romania and the Canary Islands. The main objective of the project is getting to know each other to understand how similar our way of life is. This helps us live in harmony and also accept diversity.

Each school usually has its own mascot which participates in all class and school activities. Through a diary of school life, digital photos, video clips and also the children's work throughout the year, partner schools learn about each other. Children also communicate with their peers through audio conferencing and e-mails.

The first international Comenius meeting took place in Duisburg, Germany, last December. Ms L. Vassallo and myself, also co-ordinator of the project, accompanied by Finu, our dolphin mascot, attended the meeting.

The mascots' passports were symbolically stamped by Ms Ursula Swultke, head of the school. The mascots visited the classes and the children interacted with them during their activities. They joined us on all excursions. The children will see the adventures of Finu in Germany on a PowerPoint presentation.

The mascots did not return home from Germany but went to another country. They will return home at the end of this month bringing souvenirs and a diary of their stay.

We want the children to be the focus of the project. Being the children's friends, the mascots help us achieve this goal, passing on their experience in an exciting way.